A.J. Ward long-jumped his way to a seventh-place finish Saturday at the Samford Multi and Invitational.

Photo Courtesy of hailstate.com

FAYETTEVIILE, Ark. - Splitting talents across the South, the Mississippi State indoor track and field team continued to build on Friday's campaign at the Tyson Invitational at Arkansas, while others started weekend action in Birmingham at the Samford Multi and Invitational.

The Bulldogs completed their stint Saturday at the Razorbacks' Randal Tyson Track Center with five Top 5 finishes, highlighted by the MSU men's distance medley team's second-place finish. The foursome, which included twins Andrew and Patrick Monaghan, Jarrett Samuels, and Brandon McBride, turned in a time of 9.52 seconds to find themselves at the top of the board.

The Lady Bulldogs also captured attention with Alyssa Hall's first-place victory (5-09.75) and Erica Bougrad's third-place performance in the high jump (5-07.75), coupled with action by the 4x400-meter relay team of Ocian Archer, Jody-Ann Muir, Erica Bougardand Kanisha Carey. The quartet raced in 3:41.21 seconds to give the MSU women a fourth-place finish.

Meanwhile in Alabama, MSU dominated the competition with top field performances. Sojourner Ewing (18-10.75) posted a third-place finish in the long jump, andMegan Walker (11-11.75) saw a Top 10 finish in the pole vault, as she earned a spot in eighth.

Antavius McGhee (23-02.50) stood out for the MSU men, finishing fifth in the long jump, followed by A.J. Ward's (23-00.50) seventh-place jump. Later in the day, Nathan Lewis ran the 3000-meter run in 8:31.47 seconds to reach a spot in fourth.

The Maroon and White take a week's rest before heading to Baton Rouge for the LSU Twilight Invitational on Feb. 15.